Nancy, France: Violent clashes erupt during banned protest

Approximately 4,000 demonstrators gathered in the city center of Nancy, France, on Saturday, October 24, 2026, despite an official ban on the protest. The march began around 2:00 PM, during which a wedding couple was caught in the middle of the procession.

Starting around 4:00 PM, a group of roughly 1,500 rioters engaged in heavy clashes with law enforcement. Protesters threw cobblestones, bottles, and removed bollards at police, occasionally using security fences as shields. In response, authorities deployed water cannons and tear gas. The CRS riot police, supported by helicopters and drones, managed the situation while demonstrators climbed a monument to hoist a Palestinian flag and shouted anti-police slogans.

To prevent looting and vandalism, many local shopkeepers barricaded their storefronts with wooden boards. Public services were heavily impacted, with bus networks Stan and SUB suspended from midday and several public institutions closing. Authorities had increased the police presence to 220 officers and gendarmes, a 35 percent increase compared to the previous week, and advised citizens to avoid the city center.